In exploration of the cultural phenomenon of Harry Potter, Fu-Manchu read this book; he was rewarded with excellent storytelling, offering here his humble opinion of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

Value of Disappointment

JK Rowling knows the dangers to a child of fame, fortune and over-inflation of the young ego, and value of disappointment in a child's life. Albus Dumbledore put orphan Harry in a place where he would be entirely unspoiled, in contrast to Dudley Dursley who might pass for any modern whining brat in desperate need of kicking. At end we all have to call upon our own resources and make ourselves agreeable to those around us if we want to get along.

Page Turner

Main thread of the story provides tension to turn pages. Rowling shows stresses and strains of school life from normal course of events, to bullies, to the teacher disliked in particular. Close friendship develops between believably bright Hermione Granger and less cerebral Harry Potter and his friend Ron Weasley. It is a kind of friendship that can be envied by people for whom it never happened at school; Fu-Manchu assumes such friendship is possible with boys of an age to find girls yucky.

Humour & Quidditch

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is a story shot through with humour that will appeal to its main reading age. Quidditch is a game that might be suitable to simulation on a computer.

Film Translation

Harry Potter would do very well on film now that special effects are so good. Fu-Manchu understands that Warner Brothers have the rights to the film, which is all very well as long as it is not touched by the dead-hand of Hollywood, or by vomit inducing Disney. Something like this would be best done by Terry Gilliam with people who know how to act.

Language Translation

Already books published on the American market have been translated by unimaginative muggles, so avoid Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, unless interested in the changes.

School Structure

Life at Hogwarts is designed to build character. At Hogwarts superheroes cannot succeed. Like most British schools of a certain age, Hogwarts divides itself into houses: Slytherin, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. A cup is awarded to the house with most points at year end. Merits and demerits are awarded depending upon performance and behaviour of the students, which means that all have to pull together and not get caught breaking the rules.

Team Work

Rowling crafts a wise story. She shows students having different strengths and weaknesses as people do in real life. Success can only happen when students start working as a team. All this comes together with force at end of book when each friend contributes skills to the common goal, learning something of life in process of doing so.

Conclusion

Dumbledore's spell on the Mirror of Desire is especially ingenious and does point to a minor criticism that Fu-Manchu will not reveal. Rowling has put much thought and effort into her first book. It is champion and she deserves her acclaim and whatever fortune accrues; Fu-Manchu wishes her joy of her success and looks forward to reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.